"Not long ago, Toronto was seen as squeaky clean and deadly dull. Today, it mixes grit with urban enchantments: soaring contemporary architecture and poetic transformations of history.

Royal Conservatory of Music 2009 Delivered with grace and sophistication by Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects, the RCM's Telus Centre for Performance and Learning enlivens the conservatory's 1881 building. It reflects a city moving ahead intelligently: history restored, new programs in gorgeous contemporary structures, and public space articulated with enduring materials. The 1,140-seat Koerner Concert Hall, with a ceiling of undulating wooden ribbons, will become one of Toronto's most beloved performance halls. 273 Bloor St. W.;